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Property investment opportunities

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But to let property investor

There is a wide range of opportunities in property investment, with the range expanding and taking in some new ideas in recent years.

Most people naturally invest in their own home and you can use it as an investment vehicle by extending, modernising, selling and moving on.

You could buy a second home or a holiday cottage as a property investment, renting it out to the holiday market and hoping it will gain in value over a number of years. You could become a buy-to-let property investor, buying a home and renting it out. These would tend to be city or town homes used by local professionals or commuters. The idea is to bring in more rent than you spend out on mortgages and maintenance etc, and again the property should gain in value over the years.

Property is usable

You could look at buying a run-down property on the cheap, doing it up and selling it on, but you have to be wary about the costs involved, making sure you will attract the right market and keeping within planning permissions. There are a number of companies that have sprung up that claim to assist you in buying property cheaply, but be wary of offers that seem to good to be true. You also have to consider on-going expenses such as mortgage repayments for the period when your property is not useable.

Any of the above could also be used for property investment abroad. The difference overseas could be the affordability as Britain has some of the most expensive property in the world. So, choose your destination carefully and this could be an enjoyable journey.

Option to buy property

Another option is to buy a property before it's built - off-plan on a development - either at home or abroad. The idea here is to get a brand new property at a discount, and either rent it out or sell it on when they're all built - hopefully at a good profit. Again, this can be matched abroad.

Other property investment options are:

1. Buying commercial property

2. Buying a hotel or a bed & breakfast

3. Downsize and pocket the difference

4. Buy ground rents or freeholds

5. Buy at auction

Reasons to buy a property

Whatever way you decide to get into property investment, be sure of the reasons you are doing it, what your aspirations and in what timescale. Treat it as a business and be aware of the risks involved.